An artist’s book is a medium of artistic expression that uses the structure or function of “book” as inspiration—a work of art in book form. Although artists have illustrated the words of others for centuries, the book as art object is relatively recent, and the Smithsonian Libraries has a rich, diverse collection of artist-made books from the early 20th century to today.
Click below to see all of the Artists' Books in the Smithsonian Collections Search Center. There, you can get more details and filter on topic, name, language and more.
Bird Wing and Plain Planes by John Wood, 1994.View in Catalog
Elektromagnetism by Philip Zimmermann, 1995. View in Catalog
Elements of geometry by Euclid by Sjoerd Hofstra, 1994. View in Catalog
Sonorous Figures by Laurie Sieverts Snyder, 1994. View in Catalog
An African folktale by Willow Legge, 1979. Why the Sun. View in Catalog
The artist Nani Croze in Africa, by Nani Croze, 1998. Pages 23-24. View in Catalog
Bruce Onobrakpeya portfolio of art and literature by Bruce Onobrakpeya, 2003. Plate 16 Ibaden.
Colored people by Blake J. Nolan, 2008. Cover Open Book. View in Catalog
Desire in representation by Peggy Buth, 2008. No. 33 Single Page. View in Catalog
Dolls of Africa by Freya Diamond, 2011. Pop Up. View in Catalog
Egyptian green : views from Egypt with the writing of Amelia Edwards, Herodotus, Catullus, ancient coffin texts & various other descriptions by Susan Allix, 2003.View in Catalog
Face value : old heads in modern masks : a visual, archaeological and historical reading of the Lydenburg heads by Malcolm Payne, 1993. Plate 5. View in Catalog
GIF 2 edited by Mark Attwood, Joachim Schönfeldt and Robert Weinek published by The Artists' Press in collaboration with FIG Gallery, 1994.. View in Catalog
Listen, listen : Adadam Agofomma : honoring the legacy of Koo Nimo by Mary Hark, 2011. Full spread. View in Catalog
O livro dos seres imaginários by Amir Brito Cadôr and Daniela Maura, 2011. Display View (spread sheets). View in Catalog
Nadimé : approche du derviche-tourneur en dix lithographies by Toufik Berramdane with text of Frédéric Brandon, 1992. Whirling Dervishes. View in Catalog
No be today story o! by Otobong Nkanga, 2010. Six Inches. View in Catalog
On the surface : art and technique of relief printmaking published by Katrine Harries Print Cabinet, 1996. Malcolm Payne View in Catalog
Qauqaua : a San folk story from Botswana told by Coex'ae Qgam published by Artists' Press, 1996. Quagua Cover. View in Catalog
Les sept dormants : sept livres en hommage aux 7 moines de Tibhirine by Rachid Koraïchi, 2004. p.110 w?Case. View in Catalog
Sound from the thinking strings published by Axeage Private Press, 1991. Detail of Title Page. View in Catalog
Take me to your leader by Daniel Halter, 2006. Cover. View in Catalog
Tunisia by Bessie Smith Moulton, 2003. Sand Tracks. View in Catalog
The ultimate safari by Nadine Gordimer ; with original hand-printed lithographs by Aletah Masuku, Alsetah Manthosi, and Dorah Ngomane, 2001. People Walking. View in Catalog
1 cent life, by Walasse Ting, edited by Sam Francis, 1964. View in Catalog
Yoko Ono : Odyssey of a cockroach, by Yoko Ono, 2004. View in Catalog
Richard Tuttle : [triangles]'s : works 1964-1985 : [exhibition] 30 October-8 December 1986, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London ; Two pinwheels : works 1964-1985 : [exhibition] 29 November-8 February 1986, the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, by Richard Tuttle, 1985. View in Catalog
Sunrise and sunset at Praiano, by Sol Lewitt, 1980. View in Catalog
